The communal violence of last year was an unfortunate episode but no political party should use it to derive electoral gains, Rashtriya Lok Dal leader and actress Jaya Prada has said.

Named as the RLD candidate for the Bijnore Lok Sabha seat after she recently joined the Ajit Singh-led party, Jaya Prada appealed to political parties against making the riots an issue while seeking votes.

Talking to reporters here last evening, she said that political parties should instead focus on questions of farmers’ welfare and development.

“The riots were unfortunate, but some political parties want to gain political mileage by exploiting the issue,” she said.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Purkazi Assembly segment in Muzaffarnagar would be included as part of the Bijnore Lok Sabha constituency.